Affirmations, Why They Work, And How to Use Them

When most people decide to make a life altering change or achieve a goal, they use affirmations. Affirmations are short powerful statements that have been proven to improve an individual’s health and overall well-being and, similar to physical activities, affirmations also increase endorphins, the natural ‘feel-good’ chemicals released by our brains.

Since the film, “The Secret,” some individuals don’t believe that affirmations really work, and instead believe that affirmations are nothing more than ritualistic dogma cultivated by popular self-help gurus. But the fact is, we consciously or unconsciously use affirmations everyday via our internal and external dialogue.

According to The Law of Correspondence our outer world, or current reality, is a reflection of our innermost thoughts, beliefs and feelings – as within, so without. So when you decide to do something different in your life, you must first change something within.

Now this doesn’t mean that all a person has to do is make a decision to change and voila, they’re changed, something’s been manifested, case closed. Affirmations don’t work that way; it’s not enough to just think about what you want, or repeatedly declare what you want. That would just be wishful thinking.

Instead, affirmations work when your feelings and thoughts are in complete alliance. Otherwise, your conscious mind will reject your affirmation as nothing more than mindless chatter.

So how do affirmations work, and how can you use them?

Your affirmations become your confirmation. When you speak out consciously or unconsciously, you are setting the tone for your life. For example, if what you’re saying to yourself about yourself is, “I am unlucky; I never get any good breaks,” then what you’re attracting is catastrophic circumstances and events.

Your thoughts are your personal affirmation feedback system, whereas your innermost thoughts are the cause and your outer circumstances are the effects. For example, when you use powerful affirmations such as, “I am so lucky; I always get everything that I want,” you set into motion a process that trumps the negative thought with a new thought.

However, keep in mind that during this process, it’s not enough to just say these affirmations over and over again. You must get into the feeling of what you are affirming and embody the emotions that are tied to your desired outcome. Here are some suggestions on how to use positive affirmation to help you get started.

The Process of Positive Affirmations

Gratitude: Always begin a positive affirmation with an attitude of gratitude. Being grateful creates a positive emotion, and a deep appreciation for all the great things you already have. When you’re grateful for what you already have you take the focus off of what you don’t have, which allows you to feel happy, alert and present to the good in your life when it shows up: “I am so happy and grateful that…”

Recognition: Acknowledge and believe with all of your being that all that you are affirming is within you and that what you’re asking for already exists for you within the invisible: “I am so happy and grateful that… and I acknowledge and believe that the source of whatever I ask for comes from the power within me.”

Unification: If you ask for something believing that you don’t have it, you create a feeling of lack. Believe instead that you are whole, perfect and complete, and that the source of creation is working in you, as you and through you: “I am so happy and grateful that… and I acknowledge and believe that the source of whatever I ask for comes from the power within me because I am one with the source.”

Realization: Once you realize that you don’t have to ask, look or seek out anything because you already have it, you will begin to acknowledge that all is well: “I am so happy and grateful that… and I acknowledge and believe that the source of whatever I ask for comes from the power within me because I am one with the source. And, I am fully aware that all is well and that all I am, and all I ask for is available for me.”

Thanksgiving: Having thanksgiving is showing a deep appreciation for what is already so: “I am so happy and grateful now that… And I acknowledge and believe that the source of whatever I ask for comes from the power within me because I am one with the source. And, I am fully aware that all is well and that all I am, and all I ask for is available for me. I am happy and thankful that this is my truth.”

Release: Once you affirm whatever it is that you want, you release it and let it go, knowing and believing it is so: “I am so happy and grateful now that… And I acknowledge and believe that the source of whatever I ask for comes from the power within me because I am one with the source. And, I am fully aware that all is well and that all I am, and all I ask for is available for me. I am happy and thankful that this is my truth. I trust and believe with all of my being that what I am affirming is the truth. And so I release this declaration, and I let it be!”

Collette Gee is a Certified Neuro-Linguistic Practitioner, a Violence Prevention Specialist and a Holistic Relationship Coach that helps men and women create and sustain healthy relationship patterns and behaviors. Learn more about Collette Gee